Game One Box Score (PDF)  |  Game One Box Score (HTML)

Game Two Box Score (PDF)  |  Game Two Box Score (HTML)

PORTLAND, Ore. – This wasn't how the Portland State softball team envision their conference schedule starting.

One year after rolling through the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division with an 18-2 record, and being picked unanimously to repeat as champs this spring, the Vikings find themselves at 1-3 in league play after splitting a doubleheader with Utah Valley on Sunday at Erv Lind Stadium.

Utah Valley swept the Vikings yesterday, but Sunday looked like it belonged to Portland State after they easily defeated the Wolverines 10-0 in six innings in game one. PSU's offense went cold in the final contest, though, and they lost 2-0 despite pitcher Anna Bertrand allowing only four hits.

The Vikings pounded out 11 hits in the opener, getting a grand slam from Karmen Holladay and solo homers from Carly McEachran and Kayla Norrie, while Nichole Latham was brilliant in the circle, limiting the Wolverines to just a pair of singles.

Latham upped her record to 8-7 with a complete-game effort, striking out three and walking one.

An RBI-single down the left field line by Crysta Conn in the second inning brought in Holladay to open the scoring, before PSU started to pull away with a three-run fourth inning. With one out in the frame, McEachran hit her third home run of the season to left center, then Conn followed with a double to the base of the left centerfield fence. Brandi Campos drove in Conn with a single through the right side on a full count pitch and three batters later Arielle Wiser singled in Campos to make it 4-0.

Holladay's opposite field grandslam highlighted Portland State's six-run sixth inning as the Viks put the game out of reach.

Sadie Lopez led off the sixth by reaching on a UVU fielding error, Wiser laid down a bunt for an infield single and then Danielle Lynn got on base on another Wolverines' fielding error to load the bases. Lacey Holm plated Lopez with a bloop single to left, before Holladay's blast cleared both fences in right field at Erv Lind Stadium for the junior's third home run of the season. Two batters later, Norrie belted a 2-0 pitch to left field for her first career homer and the Vikings were up 10-0.

Wiser led the offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with a double, while Holladay and Conn each had a pair of hits.

Kyli Flanary (3-9) suffered the loss for Utah Valley after pitching all six innings. Only four of the 10 runs she gave up were earned as the Wolverines's defense comitted three errors behind her.

Utah Valley (10-19) bounced back with the 2-0 win in the second contest as Josi Summers limited Portland State to four hits over seven innings. Summers struck out five and didn't walk a batter, improving to 7-10.

The Wolverines got a solo home run from Amanda Robinson in the third inning and tacked on an insurance run in the fifth when Robinson singled in Meghan Yocum.

Robinson tallied two of the Wolverines' four hits and also walked once.

Jenna Krogh hit 2-for-3 for PSU from her leadoff spot, while Wiser hit a double.

Bertrand (5-8) went the distance for the Viks, striking out eight and walking one.

Portland State (13-15) hits the road for its next games, playing doubleheaders at Idaho State on April 16 and 17.

NOTES: The Vikings lost a PCSC series at home for the first time since 2005 when they went 1-2 against Sacramento State ... Holladay finished the weekend 6-for-11 (.545) with seven RBIs and three extra base hits. She raised her batting average from .184 to .250 ... Wiser went 4-for-7 today and hit 6-for-13 (.462) with three doubles in the four games ... PSU continues to lead the all-time series with Utah Valley, 6-5. This was the Wolverines first time playing in Portland. 


GAME ONE LINE SCORE

Portland State 10, Utah Valley 0 (Apr 10, 2011 at Portland, Ore.) (Game 1)
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Portland State...... 010 306  - 10 11  1      (13-14, 1-2 PCSC)
Utah Valley......... 000 000  -  0  2  3      (9-19, 2-1 PCSC)
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Pitchers: Portland State - LATHAM, Nichole and HOLM, Lacey. Utah Valley - FLANARY, Kyli and
RUSSELL, Deianna.
Win-LATHAM, Nichole(8-7)  Loss-FLANARY, Kyli(3-9)  T-1:37  A-120
HR PSU - HOLLADAY, Karmen (3); McEACHRAN, Carly (3); NORRIE, Kayla (1).
Weather: 48; Overcast

GAME TWO LINE SCORE

Utah Valley 2, Portland State 0 (Apr 10, 2011 at Portland, Ore.) (Game 2)
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Portland State...... 000 000 0 -  0  4  0      (13-15, 1-3 PCSC)
Utah Valley......... 001 010 X -  2  4  3      (10-19, 3-1 PCSC)
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Pitchers: Portland State - BERTRAND, Anna and HOLM, Lacey. Utah Valley - SUMMERS, Josi and
RUSSELL, Deianna.
Win-SUMMERS, Josi(7-10)  Loss-BERTRAND, Anna(5-8)  T-1:38  A-120
HR UVU - ROBINSON, Amanda (5).
Weather: 50; Overcast